Design LAB Material Drive Diverts Over 2,000 Pounds from Landfill

Apr 2

Written By CRRH

In addition to all the recycling we do at the Hub, many of the items we receive are reused for a variety of purposes. One organization that uses CRRH as a resource for reuse is Design LAB: Learn + Build.

Design LAB: Learn + Build, previously known as the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create appreciation, awareness, and improvement of the built environment through education. Their flagship program, also called Design LAB, is a free, 16-week program in which local classrooms are paired with professionals in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The AEC professionals teach design concepts and mentor the students as they use those lessons to build a model. Students are introduced to a variety of career opportunities within the built environment, including the trades.

This year’s theme, “Gathering Spaces”, encourages students to think about how to bring people together, both figuratively and literally. Throughout the program, students build a model to represent a gathering space they’ve ideated. To encourage zero waste, and to keep the program affordable, Design LAB works with the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub to provide material to make their models come to life. Educators and volunteers from across the Greater Cincinnati region gathered on February 20 to collect over 2,000 pounds of materials. Instead of going to a landfill, these items will encourage students to think creatively when building their models. These items included corrugated plastic, tiles, laminate flooring samples, carpet squares, fabric squares, toy pieces, and much more.

Design LAB will hold a public exhibit showcasing a number of models from classrooms across the city from May 13-20 at Newport on the Levee. Visit their website, www.designlearnandbuild.org for more information.